Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Algerian Foreign Ministry: The Algerian President directs Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf to head to Niamey as soon as possible
Algerian Foreign Ministry: Niger’s acceptance of the Algerian initiative strengthens the option of a political solution to end the crisis
Algerian Foreign Ministry: Algeria received official approval from Niger concerning the Algerian mediation initiative to resolve the crisis
Armenia says Azerbaijani forces open fire in border region
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Israeli Supreme Court decides to return the case of prisoner Kayed al-Fafsous to the Military Court of Appeals
Egyptian media, citing medical sources: Ambulances transported about 100 injuries to hospitals as a result of the Ismailia Security Directorate fire
Egyptian media: The number of people injured in the Ismailia Security Directorate fire has risen to 21 people, some of whom are in critical condition.
Turkey carried out air strikes in northern Iraq and destroyed 20 PKK targets: Turkish MoD
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Turkish warplanes carry out an air strike that targeted the Matin area in Dohuk, northern Iraq
Israeli media: The settlers wrote the word “revenge” in the site and uprooted dozens of olive trees

After political backlash, EU Parliament passes nature law

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 12 Jul 2023 21:47
  • x

European Union lawmakers adopt the legal proposal with 336 votes in favor, 300 against, and 13 abstentions.

  • Swedish Greta Thunberg attends a demonstration with other activists outside the European Parliament, on July 11, 2023. (AP)
    Swedish Greta Thunberg attends a demonstration with other activists outside the European Parliament, on July 11, 2023. (AP)

On Wednesday, the European Parliament voted to pass a fiercely contested law to restore degraded natural ecosystems, salvaging the environmental measures that center-right lawmakers had for long campaigned to kill off.

The legislation was approved by European Union legislators with 336 votes in favor, 300 votes against it, and 13 abstentions. The final wording will now be negotiated by legislators and member nations, with an agreement sought before the EU Parliament 2024 elections.

After the vote, Cesar Luena, the parliament's lead negotiator on the law, told reporters that they "have won. It is a social victory: for scientists, for young people, for a lot of companies and businesses, for the agricultural sector."

Government officials warned that Europe is enacting too many environmental regulations as part of its green agenda, which led to months of political campaigning that showed profound splits among EU countries and parliamentarians over the plan.

Read more: European Commission faces trouble passing 'Green Deal' bills

The plan was opposed by the European People's Party (EPP), the largest legislative bloc in the EU Parliament, on the grounds that it would hurt farmers and jeopardize food security.

EPP group chair Manfred Weber characterized the victory as "an empty win."

"We can only be successful on the green deal if we unify, this is obviously not the case with this bad piece of legislation," he added.

By 2030, countries must implement measures that restore nature to a fifth of their land and sea, according to the law. The goal is to stop the degradation of Europe's natural ecosystems, which are considered to be in bad health in 81% of cases.

EU lawmaker Mohammed Chahim said, "Restoring nature brings numerous benefits to farmers," adding that they "cannot grow food on dead soil."

Legislators and scientists have refuted the EPP's assertions and accused them of spreading false information to win support before the EU Parliament elections next year. It is denied by the group.

"This law is not against anybody," Luena said. "This is a law on behalf of nature, not against any person whatsoever."

She expressed gratitude to the academics and young people who had backed the law, including Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, who was present in the EU parliament on Wednesday to see the vote.

To advance the EU's overall green agenda, including its aim to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, Brussels has already passed a number of CO2-reducing measures.

Recent environmental measures, however, have encountered opposition, notably those that call for farmers to make changes to address environmental pollution and the dwindling numbers of bees and butterflies populations.

This week, EU lawmakers agreed to weaken a different regulation aimed at reducing farm pollution.

Read next: G7 vows to quit fossil fuel faster, end new plastic pollution by 2040

  • European People's Party
  • Greta Thunberg
  • Manfred Weber
  • Lawmakers
  • European Parliament
  • Cesar Luena
  • European Union

Most Read

BBC from the front lines in Ukraine: It's bad, counteroffensive failed

BBC from the front lines in Ukraine: It's bad, counteroffensive failed

  • Europe
  • 28 Sep 2023
Who Would Ally with the West: ‘It’s Boring – The Real Excitement is in Asia’

Who Would Ally with the West: ‘It’s Boring – The Real Excitement is in Asia’

  • Analysis
  • 30 Sep 2023
US President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky

'Not 1 more cent': Americans are done with funding Ukraine's paychecks

  • Europe
  • 30 Sep 2023
Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer tells low-income families to buy their children McDonald's burgers.

Austria Chancellor's solution to poor families: McDonald's burgers

  • Europe
  • 29 Sep 2023

Coverage

All
Morocco & Libya Disasters

Read Next

All
Egypt's Ismailia police HQs engulfed with fire (Social media)
MENA

Massive fire engulfs Egypt's Ismailia police HQs, injures dozens

trump
US & Canada

Donald Trump's civil fraud trial opens; business empire at risk

Visitors look at projected paintings and drawings at the Van Gogh exhibit during a preview of the digital exhibition titled "Infinity des Lumieres" in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, on June 28 , 2021. (AFP)
Europe

AI, VR unite to depict Van Gogh's 'mental struggle' in final works

A child being treated in a makeshift ICU bed in California in 2023 (AFP via Getty Images)
US & Canada

Children are dying in US hospitals plagued with ill-prepared ERs: WSJ

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS